Fluctuations in an orderedc(2×2)two-dimensional lattice-gas system with repulsive interactions

Abstract

Fluctuations of the particle density in an ordered $c(2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}2)$ two-dimensional lattice-gas system are studied both analytically and by means of Monte Carlo simulations. The ordering is caused by a strong interparticle repulsive interaction resulting in the second order phase transition. The lattice of adsorption sites is divided into two sublattices (almost filled and almost empty sublattices) each of which contains a small number of structural ``defects,'' i.e., vacancies and excess particles. The relaxation of the correlation function of fluctuations turns out to be governed by two different functions. This peculiarity is to be contrasted with the traditional fluctuation theory which predicts the existence of a single damping constant, determined by the collective diffusion coefficient. A specific thesis of the proposed approach is that transport phenomena in ordered systems may be described in terms of both displacements and generation-recombination of structural defects. Accordingly, the correlation function of fluctuations depends on diffusion coefficients of two defect species as well as on the generation-recombination frequency. Our theory reduces to the usual one when fluctuations occur under local equilibrium conditions, i.e., for a sufficiently large size of probe areas and not too great values of interaction parameter. The analytical results agree well with those obtained in the Monte Carlo framework.